Tage Thompson Makes His Olympic Mark as Team USA Rolls Past Latvia in Opener
Tage Thompson didn’t waste any time making an impression on Olympic ice.
In his debut on the sport’s biggest international stage, the Buffalo Sabres forward found the back of the net on the power play late in the second period, helping propel Team USA to a convincing 5-1 victory over Latvia in their opening preliminary round matchup at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
The goal came at a crucial moment-just as Latvia was trying to claw its way back into the game. Thompson, who’s known in NHL circles for his lethal shot and imposing frame, was parked in his usual office on the man advantage. He took a crisp feed and buried it with confidence, giving the Americans a 3-1 lead and effectively dousing any momentum Latvia had been building.
It was a classic Thompson tally-quick release, heavy shot, no hesitation. And it was a reminder that his skill set translates just fine to the Olympic-sized ice.
Thompson wasn’t just a scorer in this one. He was a physical presence from puck drop, battling along the boards and using his reach to disrupt Latvia’s breakout attempts. His two-way play stood out, especially in a game where Team USA’s depth and structure overwhelmed a scrappy Latvian squad that hung around early but couldn’t keep pace.
And while Thompson made headlines with his goal, he wasn’t the only NHL talent shining in Milan.
Over in Sweden’s opener, Rasmus Dahlin-another Sabres cornerstone-was busy racking up assists. The dynamic defenseman logged three helpers in Sweden’s narrow win over Italy, including a slick secondary assist on the go-ahead goal by Toronto’s William Nylander in the second period. Sweden dominated the shot chart, outshooting Italy 60-22, but the scoreboard didn’t reflect that control until late.
Dahlin, true to form, was a catalyst in transition and a steadying force on the blue line. His ability to jump into the play and create offense from the back end was on full display, and his vision helped Sweden finally break through against an Italian team that played with grit and goaltending.
Back in the U.S. camp, Thompson’s performance is exactly what the Americans were hoping for. He’s part of a new wave of talent that combines size, skill, and speed-traits that are tailor-made for international play. With his confidence clearly intact and his game translating well to this setting, he’s shaping up to be a key piece for Team USA as the tournament progresses.
For Sabres fans, it’s a proud moment. Two of their franchise pillars are not just participating in the Olympics-they’re leading the way.
And if this is just the beginning, both Team USA and Sweden have a lot to look forward to.